A novel cloud storage system with support of sensitive data application

International Journal of Mobile Network Communications & Telematics ( IJMNCT) Vol. 3, No.5, October 2013

A NOVEL CLOUD STORAGE SYSTEM WITH SUPPORT
OF SENSITIVE DATA APPLICATION
Alireza Souri1, Arash Salehpour2, Saeid Pashazadeh3
1, 2

Department of Computer Engineering, East Azarbaijan Science and Research Branch,
Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
3
Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

ABSTRACT
Most users are willing to store their data in the cloud storage system and use many facilities of cloud. But
their sensitive data applications faces with potential serious security threats. In this paper, security
requirements of sensitive data application in the cloud are analyzed and improved structure for the typical
cloud storage system architecture is proposed. The hardware USB-Key is used in the proposed architecture
for purpose of enhancing security of user identity and interaction security between the users and the cloud
storage system. Moreover, drawn from the idea of data active protection, a data security container is
introduced in the system to enhance the security of the data transmission process; by encapsulating the
encrypted data, increasing appropriate access control and data management functions. The static data
blocks are replaced with a dynamic executable data security container. Then, an enhanced security
architecture for software of cloud storage terminal is proposed for more adaptation with the user's specific
requirements, and its functions and components can be customizable. Moreover, the proposed architecture
have capability of detecting whether the execution environment is according with the pre-defined
environment requirements.

KEYWORDS
Sensitive data application, Hardware USB-Key; Data security, Active protection; terminal software
customizable.

1. INTRODUCTION
The cloud era is coming with increasing network bandwidth and reliable and flexible network
connections that allow users to access software and data resources that are distributed in the
remote data centers. The Cloud Service Provider (CSP) provides us with an almost unlimited
infrastructures, software services and storage space. As customers, we do not need maintain the
complicated infrastructure and software services, and we just use hardware resources, software
resources and application services. Moreover, we can access and process the shared or exclusive
data resources.
While the users get many benefits from the cloud storage, they are also worried about the security
of their data, especially for security of sensitive data storage and process applications. Although
the cryptographic technologies provides some security for sensitive data storages and process
applications, however, there are still many security threats and challenges in the face of cloud
storage security environment, which is very different with the traditional security environment for
the terminal node data. Specifically, these security challenges [1, 2, 3] mainly, include:

DOI : 10.5121/ijmnct.2013.3503

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1.1. Security threats arose from un-trusted cloud storage service provider
Existing cloud storage architecture and security mechanism cannot guarantee that the service
provider cannot access and change user's data illegally.

1.2. Users lose control over data
In the existing cloud storage architecture, once the users outsource their data into the cloud, they
lose control of the data. Consequently, anyone that who can access the data can spread and
modify the data illegally.

1.3. Risk of data interception
Although there are related cryptographic communication mechanisms to guarantee the security of
the data transmission process, while the encrypted data is decrypted for using, the plaintext may
be intercepted by attackers.

1.4. The cloud terminals lack necessary requirements for ensure the data security
during the data processing procedure
Although there are considerable traditional terminal security technologies, however, these
technologies tend to focus on preventing malicious attacks to the entire terminal's system. As a
result, they scarcely consider the security of the data usage process.
Our goal in this paper is to study a case for the cloud storage system that supports the sensitive
data application. Our approaches mainly include ensuring the user identity and behavior is
trustworthy by enhanced trusted mechanism guaranteeing the sensitive data transmission security
by data security container and ensuring the security of data accessing process through security
enhanced cloud storage terminal software.
The key contributions of this paper are:
•

•

•

Improved cloud storage system architecture: compared to the typical cloud storage
systems, the improved structure increases hardware USB-Key to enhance the security of
user identity and interaction between the users and the cloud storage system.
Data security container for Transmission Process: we improve the traditional process
of transmitting the encrypted data by encapsulating the encrypted data, increasing
appropriate access control and data management functions, by this way, we turn the static
data blocks into a dynamic executable data security container.
Security Enhanced Cloud Storage Terminal Software: we distinguish the cloud
storage terminal software into several security levels according to the different security
requirements of users, in other words, the terminal software functions and components
are customizable.

The rest of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 presents related works. Section 3 presents
system requirements and architectural design. Section 4 presents the key technologies for the
system and finally section 5 presents our conclusion.

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2. RELATED WORKS
•

Cloud storage model: wang et al [2] describes typical cloud storage architecture. And in
the architecture, there are mainly three types of cloud storage entities: Users, who store
their data in the cloud and operate the data depending on service provided by the cloud
storage service provider, while the users include businesses, institutions and individuals;
cloud storage service provider (CSP), who is responsible for building the cloud storage
infrastructure, maintaining the running of services and ensuring the availability, integrity
and security of the data stored on its data centers; third-party auditor (TFA), which is an
optional entity, and the TPA can assess security threats of the cloud storage services.
Kamara et al [4] presents a user data storage and sharing model on the public cloud
infrastructure, in the model, the data requester and the data owner communicate with the
token in the cryptographic manner.

•

Cloud storage data integrity: juels et al [5] describes a proof of retrieve ability (POR)
model to ensure the integrity of remote data. This model incorporates spot-checking error
correction codes to ensure the property and recoverability of the files in the service
system.
Shacham et al [6] enhance the POR model, based on the POR model. They construct a
random linear function on account of the homomorphism authentication code to provide
unlimited queries and lower communication overhead. Bowers et al [7] summarizes the
work of Juels and shacham and presents an improved framework for POR protocol,
moreover, Bowers et al also extends the POR model into the distributed systems [8].
These technologies are all needed to be preprocessed before distributed deployment, and
once any changes has been made to the file, the system must broadcast the changes by the
error correction code, which brings significant computation and communication
complexity for the system. Schwarz et al [9] uses erasure-coding and block-level file
integrity detecting methods to ensure the integrity of files across multiple distributed
servers, while this method only consider the integrity of static file.
Lillibridge et al [10] proposes a backup mechanism for the P2P system, and the
mechanism partition the files into several blocks and store them in m+k nodes through
(m+k, m) erasure-coding; meanwhile, each node randomly request data blocks toward its
backup nodes set, the integrity of data block is ensured by the separate keyed
cryptographic hashes attached on the data block, however the mechanism does not
guarantee that none of the data has not been tampered.
Filho et al [11] proposes a data integrity checking method using the RSA hash function
for ens1rtirrg data property in the P2P file-sharing networks, and this method needs doing
exponentiation operation on the entire data file, consequently, it is hard to put the method
into practice when the file is large enough.

•

Data property assurance in cloud storage: Ateniese et al [12] builds a Provable Data
Property model (PDP) to ensure the rights of data owners in incredible environment,
while the model audits the data files by the public-key mechanism based on the
homomorphous tags. In a subsequent study, Ateniese et al [13] improve the PDP model
using the symmetric-key mechanism to reduce computational overhead and support
dynamic operations on data files. In a distributed storage system, Curtmola et al [14]
extends the PDP mechanism for data property with multiple data duplicates, and this
method does not require a separate coding for each copy.
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3. REQUIREMENT ANALYSES AND ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
3.1. The Specific Requirements for sensitive Data Applications
There are some specific requirements for the sensitive data applications in the cloud storage
system as follows:
3.1.1. The user identity is not trusted
Although this is common issue in the cloud storage system, however, for sensitive data
applications, it brings even more serious security threat. Therefore, it is necessary to design a
more reliable mechanism to ensure the user identity is credible.
3.1.2. The security of data transmission process
Sensitive data applications require more reliable measures to ensure data transmission security.
3.1.3. The security of data usage process
Most of the traditional methods are mainly used to ensure security while the data is encrypted,
however, once the data is been decrypted and used, it will face even more serious security threat.
Meanwhile, the traditional cloud storage terminal software often lacks consideration on the user's
individual needs and appropriate detecting their execution environment.

3.2. Basic ideas
The main idea of the proposed architecture is:
3.2.1. A trusted hardware module
Such module is introduced to the system; by introducing a hardware trusted. Module, the system
can enhance the interaction security between users and the cloud storage system. The main
functions of trusted hardware module include: enhancing the security of user identity; enhancing
the interaction security between users and the cloud storage system.
3.2.2. A data security container
It is introduced to the system; drawing on the idea of data active protection, we improve the
traditional process of transmitting the encrypted data by encapsulating the encrypted data,
increasing appropriate access control and data management functions by this way, we turn the
static data blocks into a dynamic executable data security container.
3.2.3. Security enhanced cloud storage terminal software
In this paper, we design security enhanced cloud storage terminal software architecture. The
software can be customized according to the user's requirements, and its functions and
components can be changeable. Moreover, the architecture can check the execution environment;
compared to the pre-defined environment requirements, ' it can determine the legitimacy of the
current running environment to meet the specific security requirements for sensitive data
applications.

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3.3. Architecture Design
We improve the typical cloud storage architecture [2] to support the sensitive data applications.
The improved cloud storage architecture supporting sensitive data applications is shown in Figure
1.

Figure 1. Improved cloud storage architecture supporting sensitive data application

In this architecture, the user interacts with the cloud storage terminal through security .enhanced
software USB-Key. Furthermore, the hardware USB-Key also enhances the interaction security
between cloud storage terminal and the Cloud Storage Provider.

4. KEY TECHNOLOGIES
4.1. Data Security Container for Transmission process
Through analyzing the data security threats in the sharing and transmission process, we have
found some principles to guarantee the security of data transmission:
•
•

The visitors of the data (data owners, or the users) must be legally authorized;
The communication between the data transmitter and the data receiver is secure.

In this paper, we get some inspiration from the delivery procedure of the postman delivered the
letters, while we design a trusted data transmission process. Firstly, considering a simple scenario
of postman delivers the letters between the post office and the users, the basic process is shown in
Figure 2.

23


Figure 2. A simple scenario of postman delivers the letters

Drawing an inspiration from this scenario, we analogize the elements of the data transmission
process and the elements of the delivery process as follows:
The data is corresponding to the letters, the post office is corresponding to the data center and the
users are corresponding to the data requesters. Thus, we design a data security container to
guarantee the data security during the data transmission procedure.
The security container is similar to postman. The data security container structure and interfaces
are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Architecture of the security data container

The encrypted data, essential user information and data accessing authorities are encapsulated in
the data security container.
Meanwhile, a security detector is designed to identify the user's identification, access control for
the data and manage the data yet the user information.

4.2. Security Enhanced cloud storage Terminal software
In this paper, we distinguish the cloud storage terminal software into several security levels
according to the different security requirements of users, in other words, the terminal software
functions and components are customizable.
According to the user types and the different execution environment, the cloud storage terminal
software can distinguish that whether the user's identification is legal and whether the execution
environment is accord with the predefined requirements. Specifically, there are two kinds of users
who can use the terminal software:
24


•
•

Anyone can use this terminal software;
Only specific users or group of users with common features can use the terminal
software.

Similarly, in order to adapt the specific requirements for sensitive data application, it is also need
to distinguish the software execution environment as follows:
•
•

The terminal software can run on any computer terminal;
The terminal software can only run on a specific computer terminal;

The components and cooperating progress between the users and the terminal software are shown
in Figure 4. The user holds his proprietary hardware USB-Key, and only a legitimate user to
holding his legal USB-Key can use the cloud storage terminal software. The communication
process between users and terminal software is shown as follows:
•
•
•
•
•

Identification authentication between users and the terminal software;
Customizing the terminal software depending on the identity of the user and configure the
corresponding components.
The terminal software detects its execution environment to determine whether the current
environment is accord with the Pre-configured requirements;
Security communication between users and the terminal software;
Data requesting and data Processing operations between users and the terminal software.

Figure. 4 The components of cloud Storage Terminal Software

5. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper, improved architecture for the typical cloud storage architecture to support sensitive
data application is proposed. We have argued that multiple security enhanced metrics must be
introduced to the system to accommodate the specific security requirements and user's personal
demands. Therefore, related trust enhancement technologies are designed to meet the system
requirements. Clearly, much work remains to be done to realize the entire system. We believe
that, sensitive data application is important fields in the future cloud storage systems. Meanwhile,
the users are willing to regard their personal privacy information as sensitive data.
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REFERENCES
[1] J. Heiser, M. Nicolett, "Assessing the Security Risks of Cloud Computing," Gartner Inc, 2008.
[2] C. Wang, Q. Wang, K. Ren, et al., "Ensuring Data Storage Security in Cloud Computing," Charleston,
SC, United states, 2009.
[3] R. Geambasu S. D. Gribble, H. M. Levy, "Cloud Views: Communal Data Sharing in Public Clouds,"
in HotCloud'09 Workshop on Hot Topics in Cloud Computing, 2009.
[4] S. Kamara, k. Lauter, "Cryptographic Cloud Storage," in Proceedings of Financial Cryptographic:
Workshop on Real-Life Cryptographic Protocols and Standardization 2010, pp. 1-14.
[5] Juels, B. S. Kaliski Jr, "Pors: Proofs of Retrievability for Large Files," Alexandria, VA, United states,
pp. 584-597, 2007.
[6] H. Shacham, B. Waters, "Compact Proofs of Petrievability," in Advances in Cryptology - Asiacrypt
2008. vol. 5350, 2008, pp. 90-107.
[7] K. D. Bowers, A. Juels, A. Oprea, "Proofs of Retrievabilify: Theory and Implementation," 2008.
[8] K. D. Bowers, A. Juels, A. Oprea, "HAIL: A High-Availability and Integrity Layer for Cloud
Storage," Chicago, IL, United states, pp. 187-198, 2009.
[9] S. J. Thomas Schwarz, E.L. Miller, "Store, Forget, and Check: Using Algebraic Signatures to Check
Remotely Administered Storage," Lisboa, Portugal, 2006.
[10] M. Lillibridge, S, Elnikety, A.Birrell, et al., "A Cooperative Internet Backup Scheme," in Usenix
Association Proceedings of the General Track, ed, 2003, PP. 29-41.
[11] D. L. G. Filho, P. S. L. M. Barreto, "Demonstrating Data Possession and Un-Cheatable Data
Transfer," 2006.
[12] G. Ateniese, R. Bums, R. curtmola, et al., "Provable Data Possession at Untrusted Stores," in Ccs'07:
Proceedings of the 14th ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, 2007, pp. 598609.
[13] G. Ateniese, R. D. Pietro, L. V Maacini, et Bl., "Scalable and Efficient Provable Data Possession,"
Istanbul; Turkey, 2008.
[14] R. Curtmola, O. Khan, R. Burns, et al., "MR-PDP: Multiple-Replica Provable Data Possession,"
Beijing, China, pp. 411-420, 2008.

Authors
Alireza Souri received his B.Sc. in Computer Engineering University College of Nabi
Akram, Ira n in 2011. Currently, he is receiving M.Sc. in Software Engineering from East
Azarbaijan Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University in Iran. His main interest is
in the formal verification, modeling and analyzing Network systems, Multilayer systems,
Antivirus systems, Grid computing, and Real-time systems. He is member of The Society of
Digital Information and Wireless Communications.
Arash Salehpour, He is M.Sc. (computer engineering -software - He has worked as Progra m
Committees, reviewer at numerous international conferences such as : The International
Conference on Informatics Engineering & Information Science (ICIEIS2011), University
Technology Malaysia, Malaysia, The World Congress on E-Commerce and Business on the
Web (WCEBW2012), United Kingdom and …,The areas of his Research and Interests
include: Examines both automatic systems and collaborative systems as well as computational
models of human software Engineering activities, Presents knowledge representations and artificial
intelligence techniques as well as, he is already acts as member in numerous international organizations
such as: The Society of Digital Information and Wireless Communications (SDIWC).

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Saeid Pashazadeh is Assistant Professor of Software Engineering and chair of Info rmation
Technology Department at Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering in University of
Tabriz in Iran. He received his B.Sc. in Computer Engineering from Sharif Technical
University of Iran in 1995. He obtained M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Iran
University of Science and Technology in 1998 and 2010 respectively. He was Lecturer in
Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Sahand University of Technology in Iran from 1999 until
2004. His main interests are modelling and formal verification of distributed systems, computer security,
and wireless sensor/actor networks. He is member of IEEE and senior member of IACSIT and member of
editorial board of journal of electrical engineering at University of Tabriz in Iran.

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